When it comes to fast food, people rarely slow down to show appreciation, but they did for Peterson.

"Miss Biscuit Maker, how are you?" mayor Theresa Coletta said as she walked into the ceremony.

Peterson hasn't missed a day of work in 25 years. Co-workers said she even walks to work in bad weather.

"(That's) quite an accomplishment, thank you," said Wanda Proffitt, of the Yancey County Economic Development Commission. "And I'm sure without Emma and her biscuit making, this place wouldn't be the same."

"You know, a lot of these people that order these biscuits to go, they never see her," said former mayor Danny McIntosh said. "They don't know where they come from."